Finding a gun's history?

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Kankujoe

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A friend of mine gave me a Star 9mm auto about 30 years ago. I've lost contact with him more that 20 years ago. He may even have passed on (he'd be in his 70s now).

I believe that the gun is WWII vintage but I'm not sure.

Is there anyway to find out if the gun is "clean?"

I would hate to try to register or legally transfer it into my own name only to find have it confiscated.
 
Are you required to register your handguns with the police in Missouri???

If not, why bother? Shoot it and enjoy it.

L.W.
 
It was given to you in good faith in a place that doesn't require registration.. I'd say don't sweat it. Unless you have a reason to be leary of it.

Many firearms came home in GI's duffle bags. You could post a pic in harley's forum and see what the members can tell you about it.
 
the title of the thread interested me; where can you go and find out the information about an exact firearm, like where it was used and by whom?
 
The gun was given to me in New Jersey in the 70s so I don't know if it was registered back there.

I believe that he got the gun from one of his relatives/friends. Some of them were not "fine upstanding citizens" if you know what I mean. Aside from this I don't know anymore about the gun or it's origin.

A local gun dealer told me that a he could only find out about it if we tried to transfer it into my name. But he said, if it does not have a "clean" history it would be confiscated and I may have other trouble on my hands as well.

I doubt that my friend would have given me a "hot" or "dirty" gun but I'm not sure where he got it from, or where his people got it from.
 
I had the gun stored away in the attic for 15-20 years. I actually forgot about it until recently. Just dug it out. I had intended to give it back to my friend but I can't locate him.

I found the exact same gun today in a book on Spanish handguns. Same markings. Serial number within a grouping of guns supplied to Germany. Apparently this was one of the WWII gun produced by Spain for the German troops.

I would guess that my friend got it from a family member or friend who brought it back from Europe during or after WWII.

The gun has basically been in "mothballs" for almost 30 years. I plan on taking it to a gun show to see if it is worth anything. It has no real value to me. I just initially wanted to see if I could trace it's history.
 
Maybe you are not stating something. Do you want to find out the make,model,and what the gun is worth? Maybe a little history on the company and the use of the pistol in history? Libraries have firearms collecting and history books sections. These would have info on your paticular model. Check out www.gunboards.com . There are forums on every firearm type as well. Several boards are for Military as well as Spanish made weapons.Search the threads there as well. Collectors over there are very knowledgeable. Ask here would be my first recommendation. The same applies here for everything posted above. Blue Book Gun Values has an online research site,but a fee is charged. If that last statement is wrong will somone please correct it. I picked up a copy of the latest Gun Traders Guide at the local gun store and it is a start on research as well as give an approximate value on your pistol. I would have the police run a check on the pistol just to be on the safe side if "unsavory types" were in possession of it. Having a weapon that was used in commission of a crime will bring harsher consequences later if it in your poessession and the authorities find out for any reason. I didn't know is a excuse I would not want to bet my future life on. I didn't know will not be looked at as an excuse if the authorities are zealous in prosecuting what they percieve as a crime or are anti-gun. So good luck. Have a gunsmith check it over and give it a clean bill of health before using.
 
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First you say that it has no real value to you but then you are worried about it being confiscated if you have the check run on it. :confused:

Seems to me like you think you have a few thousand dollars sitting there and are worried about losing it.

In PA to leagally be in posession of a handgun, it must be transferred to you. So each time it is sold the backround check must be run. Rifles and shotguns can just be sold without the check.

I agree with weregunner, I'd have it checked to keep my arse out of the fan.
 
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